PUL-I-KHUMRI (SW) – Civil society activists in Baghlan on Saturday expressed concerns over the mounting Taliban assaults on Pul-i-Khumri city.
In conversation with Salam Watandar, the activists said the security officials in the province seem unable to control the situation. They charged the situation here is alarming, but the officials are reporting absolutely opposite to their higher-ups in Kabul.
However, Niazm Mohammad Niazmand, provincial police chief, discarded the fears about deteriorating security as baseless. He added additional support has been sought from Kabul, but to no avail.
Separately, well-placed sources in Herat told SW at least 25 security forces were killed in the Taliban’s attacks in Pashtun Zarghoon, Karkh and Ghoryan districts. At least 20 more security forces are reported injured in these attacks.
The governor of Ghoryan district, Farhad Khademi, said the Taliban attackثی a team of security forces tasked with the security of the railway line, and killed six of them.
According to Kamran Alizay, chairman for the provincial council, lack of resources and security personnel is causing the unrest and surge in the Taliban attacks.
When contacted, Jailani Farhad, spokesman for the police in Herat, acknowledged the surge in attacks, but vowed that soon a clean-up operation would be launched.
Amid ongoing seventh round of talks between the U.S. and the Taliban, fighting has accelerated across Afghansitan.
ENDS
